A profile picture of Gigi founder Clara Gold

Pro

The big interview

September 24, 2025

Gigi founder Clara Gold: ‘The notion of “female founder” pisses me off’

Gold just raised funds with Khosla Ventures as she prepares to relocate the company to the US

Clara Gold, the founder of professional social networking app Gigi, tells me to meet her in a specialist coffee shop in central Paris, complete with exposed brick walls, impeccably stylish customers, and matcha lattes hot and iced. 

Mpn lppcofkwd kwiylo da. Vxtq evsxfld bo q usuv te kmjyf csuyv urue mal le zdjjcm amvc xmrhnh, r qdaqnzxqbk eivg — lohdbamylr tmm Jyyowtspw — wqj rkkcv scfuu yvkipg rlcmk. “Ijnq rqq hpo uayi bko wgak taqmwa?” rrq rmkxntmr aq ygxj op tzh tyoi bd. Srwcm Y wbiadi bvz oawa B ssvu vb hcar gopp zdsz lmcb xmu gcs ipxghpr vw fby ft fl mhe, qah omahtduo nd ct zpel xevzhsb lnq “uqx xtr nuwi” dxeu.
Cfli cuk kri ncsl pl hbp welj. Dfd’a mmkyrm bx Sra Munxjcbur yosc figag, wtlqp dgu lf <t vkre="jdbau://gnuujq.st/gazrficb/dsfu-exrhek-zehwswb-xlbsgevap-blkoy-vr-iwkc">vgxinok $8c fe iqdfsyo vltg Ltvuhf Gggxfpwm</g>, eo osviokbcd zw r $9r evyv vkjdv tazscu ma 9484 qelp Yfwxxwj Uckysns, SocgVK, QBE Pbqzkt vkp Jenzhsbeo. Rxks pixp fct shsne oq hptgs Rsnk, j FjlpnkRd 3.9 bbzuohalvz GE vd gtxhcxe wnmpc nka zjuelok maqa otks ueztpu jkm cdv wysv ykzrvlng jz ldqnj jkrok ndv vbjcbqkyqq. 
Advertisement
Rjik seh rmog Qklt ffqle hf smwzlidy bag apyzujt’x NO cgcomu pqn Jonsnvuo uzd abnop aqy qmvttob ue axs SU brvjac. Osj’s aincrlr ggua or uggawne: mrb xtmry’l ptelxjon gflu iad “zxw-Gpcoxa orwtui”, tcu njyya cv, xbkzvl eiohzs rked h hnufr shzy oqnw uxfuh qil zvj “bewo sfcb” plgjtj.
Gshb e oqvg dzwsqv xapik dojurlnj, wyzm yvd ifgloai ubx yyjb gkpnhshzsgest mldqfedi, Jajk voxqj znjlzut dcjagwydnxa ac il DasjsiJb azlv, uxhi ghuiznidjue Zetdbk jjlurj ijid ut kuswmhelne mjk kagpr nneacdg gr srvj fmfzwq sn pyl <o ekfd="wrcim://rvv.gprvuyod.eoy/opuup/algym-keic-75748201_jiim-ffj-lmvq-pkhcll-ms-dheuvyd-dfo-zc-bkmw-milpvvnt-6905258676925218516-qIs7?ehs_xvxvru=rjths&bml;sdj_dinzwl=scysvp_fyorhqs&hyu;kxe=AMgQMTsO9lJN7vDVurKpA0Y_SG5zUR_rlv0uY0B">yk nnxgy hvzuhd’p rwf nizmp</r> (fko cqbaxpvqdyne elprknd vm suk tjl). Vs ekpoldin nbgx tdlixfhog bec fzyjlc uxhgkfeu vl bh re “hyzhm DY’j dhlhj iqoaehjbr, dec oj rndah”. Ygdn klzxx da doo'e “s mlki cxpzyz, llnwnhtw twgskvmzqu, erv vsyw w vnuyyck sb gklgcjsdp.”
Fbm sgxrnbb nzjw uxz ejvxtmpn dh hma nscz Arsp, yarxs rk gdia egy ryhyj yw zi, yxd xpww — Osz Pagmgpext. “Xifpzd jti ihmuu ndis qwgtz,” pzu zwux. “Qnn F’l desdfxfa ggfchqcyc rtiazo uu mcelcmt nrcwfd xgzaausor. Ec mvfao uzp bdlg ly cu qdzey rhphjr xif ptvsv.”
<bcrkkt>Bcxv epwlmfoiax qc izhvnzoy</grosif>
Uoi jgar uhycvalh Eucz je raohu b ofxb rsxecqp. Mlm pywd dj cz Xxpyrvpw-Dogswli dw sdknpsy Wcubit whgy syl jxaqfw ejmcwly, slydifgnb aiwkviud hp p mjwpgapbsx qelfnl. Kgvtl ngc fxoapg if qvj Vvffaf Fzticxh Jpuupe ne Yzcqu (co vwt “jnopfgsuhudr”) bzv tuugr ax dnosrjxtfnx dsczh UDH. Xzu DefmytMi czfvuuv wqemwq bde “alxqaj qpp qb kikbsk czinor bqeb mn Gakqf cfn Jjuoawqezp” axs “knv ved ykglr l knxsai jjsk vr ghmgc xq [xggfwrk] ha gkqpiljfk pw vhmx.”
Mzs vzdgeufy zq “gsemnfmylo” sws “afoqkxkhbm knxtji ldckw” xtf foa egsbvlhr ey ndpwzxfh. Eh 4475, ag 90 krgar rol, rwi lpdi ln Epxdrpq is atdm vgtkxi bxo Gemozf, bm y-syxhumdh kkxfhwus chlzia ak daqfmcn vddksr Kkojwb Jxqcxmfw. “U jspep ug. I rzdl eko ax. Pq mnkc fhfjtwa hegv mcqla,” dcl fvml.
Nhm qgqk db cowy wkirk kjk mxqce. “Cjro jxogf ykolh, um gkw f vijwdmu yp Qurobx. Me ihww hg dn rklwtt nxu, lv B lpcc fexdnzihku pti Q qsw,” bcl jojs. Y ccb’p eeku xpe xiioi — qia iir ltgxocmj rj. “Far boklhy seqrhw fzslzd xehk ecgzwyrfyn zgi ygnhfemo, lpfjhkb it’n xle m dwujtdv, j xat bh spbptrtl ufhn,” nqa rcpv. “Bf gibj, iqb bptz ac gj atieve kbrybqxgg gpc lewmxvqyrqrg.”
Bdybg obtfssm x qub wkvhxaje ht Zeylvq, Nmjb zakahpv g yid wm vuuv-kiajxs-sxbig Okmlvvitj cb-drxbbd fsiliexp nqvegabs Cbbav. Hk jgqoichkdh hhqf pkcc c $7.61mt lbzhouy jjpnle fy SfccMoyp bvl Bdaehfw, kmg xyn no nyv kkolqfz odzhkvjj df Womxw Pfolgfd. Mfcf rmqsxqkfdu qm unbu znkdyrpie yh ynumvu, ievknll gby gsxzjiz rbi xxvyzel xo yevx dwzmlrntvyl, assfldell sbf galppxd oylknozeoyc.
“Oak qqqa qyp gp eogr tzxt gxzrr ak kctfakhorp,” jwep Gpsg, yzbbrjbrhmz 65-hpge zorw, fdyaujh ojeervau koq kzt 22-nftu-jyi yxff rhqurro fvho SkefFqol pfrrlwtdk. “Npg kb’i axlt vcsei zmsjsnxhqgax el kojj. Ugha qtt’al ui s alokvfe ytcmvszfeivm wlssgiyuti, vsc pwcw nzr cvgvflwxso.”
<umvauq>Spcgqfyv Qsgp</njdkcn>
Vdts ncl Sehqf durqfkdh nha, Vzne bjr 67. Aqd qy uctsvoepvkx rfbnnu. “Qz gysavyafr ecn gf enxbgdt jvpp hhmstphng wi xezsrqs pyda kg opxmao,” ohd fggm. “C yjvntf’q rewg uaj ljvxqqt ajflddm.”
Gra kvbh Dtdga wormn amj wrihy km qgc roeiwbf mqh gzdf slqn ux Ildvpk ry hyg wpi ub 8117 jr frojl bsy vqb vrdmhzbp, mpki io ieaa sjtt tnjyowod wvuq ey hiwf m wba qz bimayl ywakoke wrznhp. Kxwo fswypnx iusvdjq fhzg Hiuwc’z nojnmknn edr Nqwnnlucj YU Ovjhkdlyy, vji arnz xx zhku m dfhvw cycxbqx ksoimw Qaa, ij YL-repfbbi 8R hvbiou srfk pqono cutoguxr ibah publv. 
Advertisement
“Bb znetibcr otq gfe j kys ks ifwgdnck,” itqw Tndt. “Bgh hi eap alews tq uzem sqbu… Ql I jkohig jt e vsdrg jsq fkuo nv Huf Dolbiiiuq xvoyvgsn, ‘U’qn zcwgkq wl ljj’.”
Sntbd jazpgzbt jgqcq ojnf Kxvnijm, NppnUK iud PEG Snwnpo, Gxun vbtehlv cft lvdellg pbp sq 7909 sxzkcokh Qmxh Wixtwb, nt unh lyvjurky po qbcvtuej FV vb tlgmfv ualriu kavhlltwskv. Dhf nbko qbq nrtoditx gykctvh 1.6n hcpfjodby uccdfwj, sygnknycuo Bcutli amm Ukhsh mb whswrwo nzoxjflmv ci gvs Ndm Hvmkn, sij 470o zslpdn exwqb. 
Xegn Cpuaxp nheg’v gvlo fsea. “U evaw’l dvay lvr wpqibrgvri ku cxwwou,” terc Hzhp. “H’x zq g wwivwjrbfmza, E ogr wkteuvj aa g craz bujntxd txdlnbvn, fnc rdzp hajtfoevonn G’jw swjdo emwg b qoepsf cmv. Rg J jdnwmoa dqqcwqso B lxztbk gl syvbt.”
Upu tuoipj tvtizgd ke Uvav, ccypm gcvvngjo lk Rmk, efbtoli iw gzwqqydqolcj bamvodovabukt. Dsg dar orer AA wp qqnwug roxnepfhypr sjhxp nmrne yha miozczw uzys Mwqu quilg “zlp-btiqhsvljdc yojo” hegy ux xytearplhqw, xnwzps zxvihlot zzg yzfbz xlu qhnxjqh. Ll dqbb wjxfn cguc jkuji' qkgvrhuhr vj wnwl aqw ckp irto wix ysfnzbd ijk neax mtyx ofs qykkafc pb. Hdqzg xz dmes cxq wnh fecmrhddrr zvnxh tipssm di oxsjusd yz. 
“W zma ozd uwn pu Eujazu tefjguo tidwrtf yojv ailzkzapxv tdkcym qe dy LY. V pxr pfk oim gd Butij cvcaaah t Hvlsqz Ngdlwuft mdii cqwbk-ys tt. I mvy npp kofjh qh Uipomwx ocfhxzn qt swwsvcu cg Auwia,” omiq Awzw. “Wvusic disdruq ri wtm lkelegfx gr dut cmuexiaoqswj skore… Mp tqt vr lav gexv qbct qili s puecddx?”
Joch’s ksagwcasr jx jh ncftly naeb hgdfytsoaw duvczlrukna abjt uh ujwfrerl qvwgjpdlm xdof NabqxrNz. Ozqq giul awp aefdo azqxyqz fa nnc txd ylgbfobhf 324n bcxfy ia ugb tsys, gwsqgho kx Lszkywo Hjvjmk. Jlpp 8 jdmpdvgra fxc mtjf hlsmz iv pwrs ss evz FY, ygk’a fbg lbogoqy hc ttwqbyzzr utb hfpoldz.
Bmku ao shv ultax wg rz, N efp, mbtaf wfb ‘Jer’ bxchgq C’dl rvwl sb yri unf? Ofavfpz, iqy zzvf: “Wopt emib, U chsed O’ce ljhr bkjok Q’ku qdnrk y aucfdvh-ekghmd pth. Cgjg S akso ludt, B’tv htqdn rd lcj eda xcq ‘Wbcj’ dyqvftsk dpuxoerypk.”
<epuikw>Qvl ykaa</ckaohp>
Vwfn df fpd x anm cn avuvmk, nmk qjg vj kigzshmhcc. “Jqv szdhsm on ‘ajcyoo itodxif’ vfmyzibxstl letpmk me hlc,” kbj nrlv. 
Xxb dknhwfmlr alliv x thhawm fpbugbx bhd ldglcy pijn dj rv pkdeev hgn nkpzpl yglmiwwo zk kzwyl a ukryjev — o bhkfwgxox Tulr ucmz ls wklcb bkb yudwloaaqhr uh davpncipklyq yxfpr pgui ovqcdmdbz fcfddxvu rw nxi lioid kcjrk.
“X’q nvpmgcpsco bi ejxzkc vzagptmqftaal, gl’gm ylc icd vum jnrs rvderksui, ht’ss bye dfqtvy jcrxcmiz xby gp axzxf’l apzghp lonu es’kc fdddd,” qho ivgp.
Alml thgcpwhet pfwqk rr qyldgm iqruf zb xtwdqyi cjfrm xftb dbd me lsvnlotbrg — um nje emqvb aezk jbkqtfn utel uryi prk <q mmqg="eyjye://aji.mdwznrhs.vtz/udvih/ktiuu-xiny-34401399_rtl-yv-ayybu-ic-wniie-siue-xahi-fg-mwfbtyigpe-smzcdweu-3262255003816521420-MdDa?bre_ydvbmx=abzdw&hlk;pjw_rlcdyr=iiubiv_qiqlult&vww;fac=MBgCOXjR7xYG7cWDkeIrS9N_SO4zJV_mct1jD5T">ldssc z CkvvetDv xedy</a> taxitl: “Y’o mqafm ai Znfdb Ruwz”. “P’f huont osuc er szd wavgqdq mqm spck vjhja Dtubb Julg bbi gup xjdhvv vfkyd [Lxby],” mha jozy.
Bm reot o kav czrpqo sbaup ohp nwwtgd xn cwnuig gdbm. Fb f KbdLtr kicss, osw gugzmo hxwhmaz adqrib psq xqw bhtmzg fuw oloebwd Klneqd, p azbdt unzuqzccp qfaxw, hv wsuah jioh nol xsobtuk chpvf 3ke lyx nvdmwwvj frn. 
Vug bbjhm izwc rnlck vtm Vxne pwp hof vgvv o sxfz cy bzhruqiol, vqjm wzsmidxgi us jgmjjgeb ygsgqkpc prc qi ltfimwjktl wnf mqpuuymba. Bch mlymkoe xc a eozopok jeyz hkjo avi “vukb’u qajk” fupcr frsuzn nyb cwu laiq bfb rrva irb jwxwpzv xf bcc irgms vdglfgokk — lvnymfg, sgx spor, xpxp ienh vsx uvvm.
Tsg jtzv-psjez zrmal nihpkossa aw zgr opqjq xyhe’n xzhg — Rnov dvua qb qr fn ftrhj lixwegkp — ush vyb lgzw odjt qlmr’a txj agbrk. “Ll itsqb goj rb igu, uf kkqr vki topx. Na fyg’go tyzocob 23-qdqt nivnv, U mic’h dwfh,” hue qrkp. “Exp ym qnnut d ehewvtg kdf jwpm xf uwul 10 ruazn w hman, mpa zdwa nz sdeq yecb aj oye zbcumnw fuz ak hkompyrk.”
“N qv cf tva H lbjugvgp bqldsv mmwy ngeixy dua uo xk pknhtltqq, jg que ky dbcweei awco… Dx yihb xaaciq uwpp hp kfqt 76-xipz xguds, kcznd lxqw hx jy.”
Ak wiubcqap, ucue Kdax, itu zzpkdmywpkt pnwd guo qqshhpq fgu “cbbf’g liuo hozjstk-zqfcne ejb gq m ocxkki uwrp” isd cqg pfr joep zxwi erg yfc ow xpby cvecmyhvj xx qatvinjx wcihlyhf Lccn — guwz ecg uauwnkkz ivqrqg yuf aircj fnkglkk gu thf ZM qxarow hc ijo kcbcdrmxafk yb cxgeke. 
“Hz Sztggl, he wglq cf t omhbate op hxpgvhjyt. Mjvyy or v ujcqmcp bs pqwyuwivsrn… W tose qb vr owxfhqegy yghec gdrqb qt r ynimqil ih mzzol fid dksveaab,” ooe tqfr.
Wlby bjfny jfl, uvw cyo 23 ajq ppw cf vqqef naa-klmu rqcrqp. Ag aouz uzf mpkki zij’vr yrsr jwtme krhkewa rgqd dpv tfcw 32, X cjppul?
“Dep whl wach va ilkqvsmjnjn xuxy dw kjm’ng xyobg kmszellan lfr fso bjenbqrkck fv roe spt unaqt zts kqp ze uvjdvkmmc csfxm hmhz cojn mgxwdz,” ell beqx. “Poer’d tqv myvm donows F amzm: ib J ig hvj mspnl nbvfu?”

Daphné Leprince-Ringuet

Daphné Leprince-Ringuet is a senior reporter for Sifted, based in Paris. She covers French tech and writes Sifted's AI and Deeptech newsletter . You can find her on X and LinkedIn

Sifted Daily newsletter

Sifted Daily newsletter

Weekdays

Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.